Razor supporting means



May 8, 1951 M. c. THOMPSON RAZOR SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 4, 1947 \xkwsr I II FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. MARCUS C. THOHP 0N Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAZOR SUPPORTING MEANS Marcus 0. Thompson, Pasadena, Calif.

Application June 4, 1947, Serial No. 752,451

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and improved means for supporting a safety razor when not in use and particularly to supporting means for a razor which incorporates means to lengthen the useful life of the cutting blade. More specifically, the invention comprises supporting means for a razor incorporating blade-contacting seating means adapted to prevent oxidation or rusting at the cutting edge.

The safety razor has largely displaced the old type straight edge as the means of removing the American mans beard. Provided with removable and replaceable blades, characterized by its relative safety, the modern safety razor is today an accepted household accessory useful to both men and women. While the safety razor is adapted to have its blade removed and replaced when dull yet experience teaches that each blade is adapted to perform several shaves before being dulled to the extent requiring replacement. Study has disclosed that as a matter of fact the dulling of the cutting edge is due more to oxidation upon contact with the surrounding air and moisture than it is due to contact with the hair Which it cuts. If this oxidation can be prevented or retarded the useful life of the blade can be increased and the cost of each shave reduced.

It is, of course, necessary to prevent the cutting edge of the razor from coming into contact with foreign objects when not in use for the slightest contact with metal can dull a blade so as to render it unusable. With an appreciation of the advantages to be gained by protecting the blade from contact with foreign objects and also by preventing oxidation the present invention comprises means to accomplish those results.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the razor mounting comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and discloses the blade seating and oxidation-preventing means;

Figure 3 is a vertical section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and discloses the head of the razor in its seated and protected position;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a second preferred razor-mounting means constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a section upon the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and shows the protected relationship in which the razor blade is maintained;

2 Figure 6 is a vertical section thru the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring now in particular to the first preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the construction is seen to comprise a box-like open topped casing II which may be made of plastic or metal as desired and which is provided with a pivoted cover or top I 2 hinged at l3 and normally pressed downwardly into closing relationship by a spring [4. Cover I2 is shaped to conform to the casing and in its closed position the unit is completely sealed from the ambient atmosphere.

The base 16 of easing H is thickened and its flat top surface I! provided with an elongated groove l5 adapted to seat the handle of a common type razor. Adjacent one end wall a transverse channel !8 is formed, the open mouth 19 of which is defined by parallel overhanging shoulders 2|. The lower side walls 22 of the channel converge in the manner clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cover 12 is formed with a transverse downwardly extending shoulder 23 positioned so as to be above the channel [8 with the cover in its closed position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Adjacent the handle-seating groove in the easing base I6 is formed with a vertically extending well or reservoir 26 connected to channel l8 by means of a relatively small size passageway 21 vertically elongated at its channel end. A removable cap 28 closes the well 26 in sealed rela tionship to retain therein a body of oil.

Positioned within the transverse channel I3 is a vertically adjustable seating member, indicated generally by the reference character 30, and including an outer resiliently compressible channel member 3| formed with upper edges 32 adapted to underlie the shoulders 2! of the channel opening [9 and with outwardly extended shoulder-like ridges 33 in contact with the inclined channel walls 22. A pad 36 seats snugly within channel 3 I, conforming to the interior dimensions thereof, and formed centrally with an upwardly opening V-shaped groove 3?. With the spring channel 3| in its upper open or spread position, illustrated in Figure 2, the upper edges of the side walls 38 of the pad contact in sealing relationship the overhanging channel shoulders 2|. With the channel member 3| in its lowered position the outwardly extended shoulders 33 have been cammed inwardly from their positions illustrated in Figure 2 to that illustrated in Figure 3 and the walls 38 of the pad 36 have been forced together to narrow materially the slot 31.

In Figure 3 a razor is illustrated positioned therein, the side walls 38 of the pad contact the opposite sides of the razor head, indicated at 4|, while the handle 42 lies in the groove l5.

A wick 44 extends from the pad 36 to the interior of the well 26, passing thru a passageway 21 which, in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, is vertically enlarged at its end adjacent channel l8 to permit the mm; to move as the seat 30 i vertically displaced. Both the pad 36 and the wick 44 are preferably formed of oil-absorbing material so that with a reservoir of oil in the well the pad will at all times be supplied with oil.

The operation and use of this first embodiment of the invention is thought to be clear. With the cover |2 in its open position, as illustrated in Figure 1, the unit is adapted to receive a razor of the single edge type illustrated in Figure 3. After use, and following drying, the razor is positioned within the casing, its head 4| being inserted downwardly thru the slot I9 of channel I8 so that its blade-carrying extremity extends into the pad channel 37. The cover I2 is then pivoted to its closed position, the spring |4 exerting a closing force which forces the cover downwardly and the shoulder 23 into contact with the razor head 4| in the manner illustrated. The razor head is forced downwardly and moves the seat 30 with it, the spring channel 3| traveling from its upper position illustrated in Figure 2 to its lower position illustrated in Figure 3. This downward movement of channel 3f is accompanied by the camming inwardly of its side walls, the shoulders 33 riding in contact with the inclined walls 22, and the closing of the pad sides 38 against the razor above the cutting edge. Accordingly, with the cover in its closed position the adjacent sides 38 of the pad are in contact with the opposite edges of the blade-carrying portion of the razor head 4| and the cutting edge of the blade is effectively sealed from the exterior atmosphere. In this protected relationship no foreign object can contact the blade and the presence of the lubricating oil in the pad provides an atmosphere around the blade which effectively retards oxidation. As a result the razor blade can be used for much longer periods of time and for many more shaves than would otherwise be possible.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 4, and 6, means are provided to mount and to protect a razor of the double edged type. A supporting stand is provided comprising a base 5| from which extends an upwardly inclined end wall 52 formed centrally with a vertically extending open-sided channel 53. The latter is provided with slightly overhanging vertically extending shoulders 54 on its open side to form retaining means for vertically extending pads 56 which are further secured in place by adhesive surfaces 51. Each pad is slotted vertically at 58 and is formed with an integral lip portion 59 adapted to extend between the blade of a razor and its protecting guard when in a loosened condition.

The relationship of the pads 56 to a protected razor is illustrated in the drawing in which a razor of the common two-edged type is disclosed and is seen to comprise a handle 6|, a head 62, a flat two-edged blade 63, and a blade guard 64. In the manner common to this type of razor the head 62 is connected by a shank 66 to the handle 6|, and by the rotation of the latter the head can be drawn toward the handle so that the blade 63 is flexed at its outer end into conformity with the curvature of the guard 64. The razor when seated in the protective mounting, however, is in a loosened condition and the handle 6| is partially unscrewed from the shank 66 so that the blade assumes substantially a flat condition in which it is spaced adjacent its cutting edges from the protecting guard. When so positioned the inwardly projecting lip 59 of each pad 56 extends between the guard and the blade while the sharpened blade edge upon each side extends into the adjacent pad slot 58.

The base 5| is formed with a well or reservoir 68, normally closed in sealed relationship by a removable cap 69 and connected by a transverse passageway H with the lower extremity of the channel 53 to which the lower ends of the pads 56 extend. Oil in well 68 is conveyed directly to the pads 56 and passes therethru into contact with the razor blade. The positioning of the razor in the unit is'improved by the presence near the outer edge of the base of a recess 12 into which the outer extremity of the handle 6| extends in the manner illustrated in Figure 4.

In the use of this second embodiment of the invention, after the razor has been used and cleaned it is reassembled in the loosened relationship illustrated in the drawing in which it can be slid downwardly in the channel 53, the blade 63 extending into the pad slot 58. In its lowermost position, as illustrated in the drawing, the lower end of the guard 64 abuts the base 5|, preventing further downward movement and for their full length the blade cutting edges are seated Within the pads in which they are protected and maintained in an oiled condition by the pads. The removal is a simple operation requiring only the vertical displacement of the razor by a lifting force exerted upon the handle 6|. If desired, the slight amount of oil which has adhered to the blade can be wiped off but this will be found to be unobjectionable as a rule so the wiping action may not be required.

I claim:

1. A razor support comprising a seat for the operative end of a razor including the blade, said seat including an oil-conducting pad, constructed and arranged to enclose the cutting edge of said blade, an oil reservoir in said support, and means including a wick to conduct oil from said reservoir to said seat.

2. In a razor support, a pad adapted to receive and seat the blade-carrying portion of a safety razor, said pad being movable between open and closed positions, and means to open and to close said pad upon the seating and upon the removal, respectively, of the razor.

3. In a razor support, a pad adapted to receive and seat the blade-carryin portion of a safety razor, said pad being movable between open and closed positions, means to open and to close said pad upon the seating and upon the removal, respectively, of the razor, and means to conduct rust-preventing oil to said pad.

4. In a razor mounting, a casing, a channel in said casing, an open-sided vertically slidable seat for the blade-carrying structure of a razor blade positioned in said channel, and cooperating means in said casing and said seat to effect the closing of the open side of said seat upon the downward displacement of said seat in said channel during the seating of the razor.

5. In a razor mounting, a casing, a channel in said casing, an open-sided vertically slidable seat for the blade-carrying structure of a razor blade positioned in said channel, cooperating means in said casing and said seat to effect the closin of the open side of said seat upon the downward displacement of said seat in said channel during the seating of the razor, a cover pivoted on said casing and movable between open and closed positions relative thereto, said cover including means to exert a force upon a razor seated in said seat to move the latter downwardly in said channel.

6. In a razor mounting, a casing, a channel in said casing, an open-sided vertically slidable seat for the blade-carrying structure of a razor blade positioned in said channel, cooperating means in said casing and said seat to effect the closing of the open side of said seat upon the downward displacement of said seat in said channel during the seating of the razor, an oil reservoir in said casing, oil-conducting means connecting said seat to said reservoir in the various vertical positions of the former, a cover pivoted on said casing and movable between open and closed positions relative thereto, and means on said cover to exert a force upon a razor seated in said seat to move the latter downwardly in said channel.

'7. In a razor mounting, a casin having a thickened base formed with a transverse channel, with a fluid well, and with a passageway therebetween, said channel being formed with converging side Walls, a seat positioned in said channel and including a flexible outer wall and a pad shaped to receive the cutting edge of a razor, said outer wall being adapted to be cammed inwardly upon the movement of said seat downwardly into said channel and to close said pad upon a razor seated therein, characterized in that upon the removal of a downward force retaining said seat in said channel said seat moves outwardly therefrom under the natural resilience of said wall.

8. The construction recited in claim 7 characterized in that said casing is provided with a spring-closed top adapted to exert a retaining force upon a razor seated in said pad to retain said seat in its lowered position in said channel.

9. In a razor mounting, a stand comprising a base and a side wall, spaced vertically extending slotted pads carried by said side wall adapted to seat the cutting edges of a razor blade positioned in the head of a razor, an oil reservoir in said base, and means connectin said reservoir to said pads.

10. The structure recited in claim 9 characterized in that said base is recessed to receive and seat the end of a razor handle attached to the head carrying said blade.

11. A razor support comprising a base, an outwardly opening seat for the head of a razor carried by said base and including an oil-conducting pad constructed and arranged to enclose the cutting edge of a blade carried by said head, said base including means to support the handle of said razor, an oil reservoir in said base, and con- 6 ducting means t feed oil from said reservoir to said pad.

12. The construction recited in claim 11 characterized in that a cover member is pivoted on said base and overlies said base into closed position to protect a razor carried thereby.

13. The construction recited by claim 11 characterized in that said pad is so positioned as to receive the cutting edge of the razor blade when the latter is extended vertically.

14. The construction recited in claim 13 characterized in that said pad is so positioned as to receive the cutting edge of the razor blade when the latter is extended horizontally.

15. A support for a razor or the like having a sharp cutting edge, comprising a soft seat capable of contacting without dulling said edge and shaped to enclose it, an oil reservoir in said support connected to said seat by oil-conducting means to feed oil to said seat at its area of contact with said edge to prevent the oxidation and deterioration of said edge.

16. A safety razor support comprising spaced seats for the head and for the handle of the razor, the seat for the head of the razor comprising parts relatively movable toward and from each other and constructed and arranged as to move into and from contact and enclosing relationship with said head, and means to effect the relative movement of said parts upon their being displaced by a force exerted by said head in its movement into said seat.

17. The construction recited by claim 16 characterized in that the relatively movable parts of said seat for the head automatically move from each other upon the removal of said head from its seating position.

18. A razor support comprising separate spaced seats to receive the head and handle of a safety razor, and a cover having a shoulder mounted on its inner face; the seat for the head of said razor being of substantially U-shaped cross section and containing a removable, resiliently mounted shell having flexible walls enclosing an absorbent pad of substantially the same shape as the shell; said shell and said pad being compressible upon closing of said cover, said compression being produced by a downward movement of said shoulder forcing the blade carrying portion of a safety razor against the sides of said seat thus causing the exposed portion of a razor to be enclosed by said absorbent pad.

MARCUS C. THOMPSON.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,615,396 Lorenz Jan. 25, 1927 1,981,853 Bruce Nov. 27, 1934 2,323,615 Martineau July 6, 1943 

